“You did not tell me how pretty she was,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam after dinner, as the gentlemen talked over brandy.
Darcy had not known it either, until Miss Bennet stepped into his drawing room, dressed in a gown that dazzled, her chestnut hair done up in ringlets that brought to his mind the image of a Greek goddess. He had always considered her tolerablyhandsome, nothing more, yet, as she walked across the carpet of the drawing room, he could not keep his eyes off her. There were flowers braided into her hair, and the way her face was framed by the braids showed off the gentle slope of her neck.
He had only just managed not to tell her how beautiful she looked. Instead, he had made some inane remark about having two handsome young ladies visiting him. Georgiana had giggled, and Miss Bennet had thrown him an amused glance.
Darcy knew he had to answer his cousin carefully, or he would never hear the end of it.
“Is she? She is handsome enough, I suppose. I have not paid attention.”
Bingley “Are you blind, Darcy? She is uncommonly pretty.”
“She is my sister’s friend. I do not think of her that way.”
“But it must have occurred to you,” said Richard, in that annoying manner of his. He would keep probing until Darcy was cornered into saying something he wished he had not.
“I rarely see her,” said Darcy.
“Well, then, you will not object if I pay her more attention, will you?” said Bingley.
Darcy could feel Richard’s eyes on him. He shrugged nonchalantly. “I am not her guardian. You may do as you please, as long as you behave in an appropriate manner. I have promised her father to take care of her. But I should warn you, she does not have much of a dowry, and, as you heard from her, her mother’s brother is in trade.”
“I say, Darcy, that is not a very kind thing to say. Anyone would think you are trying to discourage me. Luckily, as you know, I am not in need of a dowry, and I do not care if her uncle is in trade.”
“Youshouldcare,” said Darcy. “How can you hope to improve your family’s social status if you do not pay close attention to these matters?” This was familiar territory. Darcyhad been advising Bingley about social rules since they were in school. “Besides, I know your infatuations. They always come to nothing. Miss Bennet is a gentleman’s daughter. You cannot simply court her, then walk away.”
Bingley shook his head. “I do not understand you, Darcy. One minute you are telling me she is from trade, the next that she is a gentleman’s daughter.”
“I have a strange feeling,” said the colonel, “that he is warning you to stay away.”
Chapter 16
The next morning, as she was about to enter the breakfast room at the usual time, she was surprised to see two footmen in the room, bringing in breakfast. Their presence could only mean one thing. Mr. Darcy was here.
She smoothed down her day dress, wishing she had taken more care with her appearance, then stepped in.
“Miss Bennet,” he said, “Will you join me for breakfast?”
Two days ago, Elizabeth might have found his invitation galling. After all, this was her home, at least for now, while he had his own quarters elsewhere. Last night’s dinner, however, had left her in a good humor, and she was not inclined to quarrel with him.
“Thank you for inviting me to my own breakfast table,” she said, with mock primness.
He chuckled. “Is there nothing that escapes your notice, Miss Bennet?”
“I certainly hope not,” she replied, preparing the tea. “Do you wish for a tea, Mr. Darcy?”
“Thank you, I have requested a coffee pot to be brought up.”
“How did you find yesterday’s dinner?” asked Mr. Darcy as she helped herself to bread and marmalade and took her seat opposite him at the table.
“Far more pleasant than I expected.”
The corner of his mouth curled in amusement. “That tells me very little,” he remarked mildly, “since I have no idea what you expected.”
“I did not know how Mr. Bingley would behave, after Pemberley,” she said, shortly.
Mr. Darcy looked chagrined. “I did not think of that. I should have called on you with him to make you further acquainted before having you sit down to a dinner. I am sorry if I caused you uneasiness.”
Uneasiness was too mild a word for the sleepless night she had suffered, but as he had apologized, she did not pursue the point.
